Compare the2023 Ford Transit Connect VanVS 2023 Mercedes Metris Cargo

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Transit Connect Van’s optional Cross Traffic Alert uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Metris Cargo doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

Both the Transit Connect Van and the Metris Cargo have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, collision warning systems, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, front and rear parking sensors and driver alert monitors.

Warranty

The Transit Connect Van comes with free roadside assistance for 5 years 60,000 miles. Ford will send help if you run out of gas, need a jump-start, lock your keys in or need any assistance on the road. Mercedes doesn’t give free roadside assistance for the Metris Cargo.

The Transit Connect Van’s 5 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Metris Cargo runs out after 100,000 miles.

There are almost 8 times as many Ford dealers as there are Mercedes dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Transit Connect Van’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford above average in initial quality. With 22 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford above average in long-term dependability. With 4 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Mercedes is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Ford 6 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Transit Connect Van gets better fuel mileage than the Metris Cargo (24 city/26 hwy vs. 19 city/23 hwy).

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Transit Connect Van’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Metris Cargo doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Ford Transit Connect Van uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Metris Cargo requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Transit Connect Van has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Metris Cargo doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Tires and Wheels

The Transit Connect Van’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Metris Cargo’s 60 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

The Transit Connect Van has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Transit Connect Van flat and controlled during cornering. The Metris Cargo’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

Chassis

The Ford Transit Connect Van may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 to 550 pounds less than the Mercedes Metris Cargo.

The Transit Connect Van is shorter than the Metris Cargo, making the Transit Connect Van easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces:

	Transit Connect Van	Metris Cargo
SWB Van	174.2 inches	202.4 inches
LWB Van	190 inches	211.4 inches

The front grille of the Transit Connect Van offers available electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Metris Cargo doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The Transit Connect Van has 7.3 inches more front headroom and 5.7 inches more front legroom than the Metris Cargo.

Ergonomics

The Transit Connect Van XLT offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Metris Cargo doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

To help each driver find a more comfortable driving position, the Transit Connect Van has a telescoping steering wheel. Much better than just a tilt steering wheel or adjustable seat, this allows a short driver to sit further from the steering wheel while maintaining contact with the pedals. The Metris Cargo doesn’t offer a telescoping steering wheel.

The Transit Connect Van’s standard power windows have a locking feature to keep children in the rear seat from operating them, but the driver can still raise and lower both of them with the lock engaged. Mercedes does not offer a locking feature on the Metris Cargo’s standard power windows.

In addition to the right side sliding door, the Ford Transit Connect Van has a driver’s side rear sliding door. This door simplifies loading and unloading passengers and it allows parents to easily secure two children into child seats. The Metris Cargo doesn’t offer a driver’s side rear door.

The Transit Connect Van’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Metris Cargo’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Transit Connect Van’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Metris Cargo’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Transit Connect Van offers an optional rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper optional on the Metris Cargo only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The Transit Connect Van XLT’s optional high intensity discharge (HID) headlights provide a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using less power than the Metris Cargo’s halogen headlights. HID units last two to six times longer than halogen.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors available for the Transit Connect Van detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Metris Cargo doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Transit Connect Van XLT offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Metris Cargo doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Transit Connect Van’s optional rear view mirror has an automatic dimming feature. This mirror can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on it, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Metris Cargo doesn’t offer the luxury of an automatic dimming rear view mirror.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Ford Transit Connect Van offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) on the dashboard. The Metris Cargo doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Recommendations

The Ford Transit Connect outsold the Mercedes Metris by almost two to one during 2022.